I cried as I tried to get comfortable on the couch. I still had the handcuffs on, and trying to sleep with them was a bitch.
“AJ’s on the phone, you know what to do,” my brother said walking into the basement with a cell phone in his hand. He held it to my ear.
“AJ?” I cried out.
“Baby, are you ok?” he asked.
“No! What do you think?” I asked, feeling my heart begin to pound.
“Oh baby, Im in town, I flew up here as quick as possible. Marianna is ok, don’t worry. Shawn took her to my mom’s house and she’s taking care of her,” AJ informed me.
“Oh thank G-d,” I muttered.
“She’s going to leave town, no specific places to be said, and she’ll keep her safe,” he told me.
“AJ, you have to help me,” I said, feeling tears begin to stream down my cheeks.
“I know baby. I let their threats scare me the first time and right now, the only thing that matters is that you’re safe and in my arms. I love you,” he told me.
“I love you too,” I sniffled.
“Im coming to get you baby girl,” he said and we hung up. I looked up at Anthony and he took the phone from my ear and shoved it in his pocket. Ive been handcuffed for two days, only free hands to bathe and go to the restroom. I’ve been worried sick about Marianna and if she was being taken care of.
“I have to pee,” I told Anthony.
He looked at me and rolled his eyes. He walked over to me and unlocked the handcuffs. I looked up at him and walked to the restroom. I shut and locked the door. I looked down at my now bruised wrists. I turned on the faucet and held my sore wrists under the cold water. I rubbed the pain and walked over to the toilet. I went to the bathroom and then washed my hands. I looked around the bathroom, as I have for the past two days trying to find somewhere I can escape.
I looked into a small closet I hadn’t even thought about looking in before. When I opened it, there was a small hole. I looked into the hole, it looked to lead somewhere. I looked back at the locked door. I walked over to the faucet and turned it back on.
I crawled into the hole and began my “journey”, I crawled for awhile, my knees starting to hurt and my neck felt stiff. After crawling for about twenty minutes in almost complete darkness, I saw a tiny light.
“Oh thank G-D,” I muttered to myself. I stuck my head out of the hole and looked to see where I was. I was right outside the building I had been in. I smiled, this is too good to be true. I looked down, next to me and saw a tiny window, the same window I had been ‘testing’ the first day I was in there. I looked in, carefully, and didn’t see Anthony anywhere.
“Fuck!” I yelled and jumped out of the hole and hurried down the street. I knew exactly where I needed to go, I needed to go to Ricky’s house. Which was a bit risky, considering he lived two doors away from my brothers. I rushed down the street, not hearing my brother, but I knew he was looking for me. I was scared and my side was hurting from running, but I couldn’t stop, not that I had escaped.
I wasn’t far from Ricky’s house, and when they opened the door, I was rushed inside.
“AJ! Come here!” Ricky shouted, locking the door. AJ rushed to the front door from the living room.
“Baby!” he exclaimed, wrapping me into his strong and warm arms.
“We were trying to find a way to go get you,” he murmured into my hair.
“I found a hole in the closet in the bathroom and decided to take my chances,” I said, not letting him go.
“We need to get you out of here,” he said, pulling away.
“Just me?” I asked confused.
“Baby, I need to take care of them,” he said, referring to my brothers.
“No, AJ. Please, you can’t let me go by myself,” I cried out.
“Melissa!” I heard from the entrance of the living room. I looked over quickly, recognizing the voice.
“Shawn!” I exclaimed and ran to him, jumping into an embrace.
“Are you ok?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Yeah, and don’t worry about Marianna,” he said smiling.
“You weren’t that excited to see me,” AJ muttered.
“Huh?” I asked, turning to him. I had heard what he said, I just wanted him to repeat it louder. I hadn’t been more excited, but AJ wasn’t being held hostage by my brothers, Shawn didn’t know what to think about everything.
“Nothing, baby, let’s go talk,” he said taking my arm.
“Ok,” I said.
I smiled at Shawn and then followed AJ to what I remembered as Ricky’s room.
AJ shut the door and locked it. I looked at him confused.
“Just want some privacy,” he shrugged.
“Oh,” I said looking down at my hands.
“Come here,” AJ told me. I looked up and saw his beautiful brown eyes smiling at me. I moved closer to him and he held me in his arms.
“I missed you so much,” he whispered to me.
I looked up and saw a tear falling down his cheek. I reached up and wiped it away.
“I missed you too, I just wish you would’ve told me what was going on when it all started,” I replied.
“I know, I just didn’t want you and your brothers getting into a deeper resentment than you were in before. I knew you would object to leaving and everything, too, and you would’ve gotten yourself killed,” he told me.
“AJ, Im telling you this in complete honesty, I would die for you. I would rather die, than live and know that you’re with someone else or I can’t be with you,” I told him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said pushing hair out of my face.
“I love you,” I said.
“Love you too,” he smiled and leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Slowly, our mouths opened and our tongues were reintroduced. There was so much passion and love in this kiss, I knew exactly why I loved AJ so much.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. AJ and I groaned and pulled apart.
“What?” AJ asked, swinging the door open.
“Hey man, you and Melissa need to dip, Anthony is at the door,” Shawn said frantically.
“No, Im staying to face that motherfucker,” AJ declared.
“Im not going by myself!” I exclaimed.
“No, Shawn’s going with you,” he said.
I looked at Shawn and then heard a pounding on the door.
“Come on,” I said rushing to the bathroom and opened the window. I shut the door and looked out the window. I climbed out and stood on the fire escape.
“Hurry Shawn,” I demanded as we rushed down the stairs. Shawn made sure he shut the window, so maybe it wouldn’t be so obvious.
We were rushing down the street, I turned to see if anyone was following us and I slammed right into someone.
“Well, look who it is,” I heard someone snicker. I looked up and was face to face with Robert.
“Fuck,” I groaned. I looked at Shawn, who stepped back.
“You’re getting smart Melissa, but not smart enough,” he said and grabbed my arms.
I looked at Shawn, Robert hadn’t even noticed him. Robert grabbed my arm and began to drag me down the street.
It then dawned on me, strip club! The man said they were protective over their girls. He would most likely help. I looked behind me and saw Shawn standing there, not knowing what to do.
“Ecstasy Girls! Go there!” I shouted to him.
“Who the hell you talking to?” Robert shouted, but when he turned around, Shawn was already gone.
When we got to the basement, the same one Anthony had been keeping me in, I was handcuffed and thrown on the couch.
I hope AJ is ok. Chapter Fourteen~
I sat on the couch for what seemed like, for hours.
“Melissa?” I heard someone whisper. I looked up and looked around, for the voice.
Robert had left about ten minutes ago, Anthony had given him “orders” to keep me here.
“Melissa...” I heard again.
“Who’s there?” I asked, standing up.
The handcuffs were rubbing against my already wounded skin, and I was in pain.
“Melissa, it’s me, Shawn,” I heard. I ran over to the door and struggled to unlock it, but I couldn’t.
“Go outside on the side of the building,” I ordered and ran to the bathroom to see the hole sealed.
“Fuck!” I yelled. I ran to the window I had previously investigated and pushed a crate, somehow, to it and stood on the crate. I balled my hands into fists and pounded the window, shattering it. I shrieked as blood began to fall down my hands and onto my arms.
“Son of a...” I mumbled and stood on my tip-toes to see if I could spot Shawn. I saw him walking to the side.
“Shawn!” I called. He rushed to the window.
“Damn, did you do that?” he asked looking at the window. I held up my bloody hands and nodded.
“Ok, come on, we’ve got to get you out of here,” he said and grabbed my arms and began to help me out of the window. Finally I was free, with a few cuts on my stomach from the broken glass, but I wasnt going to complain about that.
“Where’s AJ?” I asked, frantically.
“Dont worry. He’s at Ricky’s place. Now Im going to take you there and we’re going to hide you there for a while and then you and AJ are leaving for Florida,” he said.
“Are you serious? What about Marianna?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about her, his mother will bring her down in about two or three weeks when everything is ok,” he said.
“Oh my G-d,” I sighed and Shawn and I began to run down the street.
“Ok, now what if they’re up there?” I asked walking into the apartment building.
Shawn shrugged.
“We’ll deal with it if it happens, now come on,” he said taking my arm. We ran up the stairs and into Ricky’s apartment.
“Baby,” AJ said running up to me. He wrapped me in his arms and kissed my forehead.
“Did you go to Ecstasy Girls?” I asked Shawn.
“Yeah, the place was closed, I had to figure out something by myself,” he replied.
“Thank you so much Shawn,” I said wrapping my arms around him.
“It’s no problem. You kinda grew on me,” he shrugged.
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Ok, now let’s go those handcuffs off you,” AJ said. The guys all worked on getting the handcuffs off without hurting me and after an hour, they were off.
“Oh my wrists,” I whined and ran cold water over the wounds.
“Baby, we’re leaving tonight for Florida, ok?” AJ asked. I looked into AJ’s eyes and nodded.
“I am so sorry AJ,” I cried.
“Why are you sorry?” he asked.
“This is all my fault,” I sobbed.
“No, it’s not and I don’t want to hear you say that,” he scolded me.
He put his finger under my chin and lifted it.
“I love you,” he told me.
“I love you too,” I replied.
“Ok, you two, here,” Ricky said walking into the bathroom. He was holding a wig, a hat, and two pairs of glasses.
“What is that?!” I shrieked.
“Costumes. Wouldn’t want anyone to recognize you two, would you?” he asked, grinning. AJ slipped the hat on and put on the glasses.
“How do I look?” he asked smiling.
“Like a real stud,” I winked.
“Ricky, what’s going on?” his mother asked walking into the bathroom.
“Melissa!” she exclaimed.
“Ms. Richards!” I exclaimed and hugged her.
“Where’ve you been?” she asked.
“Florida,” I smiled.
“Must be nice to be out of here,” she nodded.
“Yeah, we’re going back,” I smiled.
“Mom... please,” Ricky sighed.
“Sorry...sorry... I’ll see you later and you better call me sometime,” she told me.
“Ok, I will,” I smiled.
“Here,” Ricky said handing me the wig. I pulled my hair back and slipped the smooth wig on. It was an auburn color wig and to be honest, it didn’t look too bad. I slipped on the glasses too and looked at AJ.
“Hey honey, wanna kiss me now?” I joked.
“Oh yeah,” he said grinning. He pulled me close to him and pressed his lips to mine.
“Let’s get out of here,” he told me. I smiled and we left.
“Oh my G-d, I have to go to the apartment. All my money and everything is there. They wouldnt be there, so let’s go by there first,” I told AJ.
AJ looked at me worried.
“Please?” I asked.
“Quickly. Let’s go,” he said.
After getting my purse and my money and collecting a few things, we left. Thankfully, no one saw us. We sat in the bus station and waited impatiently for the bus to come. Someone came into the station and AJ and I looked up at the same time and saw Anthony had walked in.
“Fuck,” AJ muttered and looked down, avoiding any eye contact with Anthony, I stuck my nose into a magazine and pretended to be interested, even though it was just an ad.
“Have you seen them?” I heard him ask someone.
“No, sorry,” a woman said.
“Son of a...” Anthony said and stormed out of the station.
“Thank G-D,” I sighed in relief.
“Baby, we’ll be in Florida soon and we won’t have to worry about him,” he said.
“I know, but don’t you think he’d expect us to go back to Florida?” I asked.
“Yeah, but I dont think he’ll go through the trouble,” he replied.
“Well, I hope not,” I sighed.
AJ kissed my cheek and leaned back in his chair, pulling his hat over his face. Suddenly I felt something at the side of my face. I froze, I knew exactly what it was. I felt the tears flowing down my cheeks.
“Please don’t,” I cried.
“Shut up bitch,” Anthony said.
AJ took the hat from over his face and looked up at Anthony shocked.
“Don’t shoot her Anthony,” AJ ordered.
“Or what?” he asked.
“Anthony, please,” I cried. I knew Anthony was completely capable of pulling that trigger and blowing my head off.
“I said shut up bitch!” he shouted.
There were shrieks throughout the station as everyone hit the floor.
AJ stood up and Anthony pointed the gun at him.
“Where the fuck you going?” he shouted.
“No where man,” AJ said holding his hands up.
“Please,” I cried and Anthony brought the gun back to my head.
“What? Give me one good reason why I shouldnt blow both of you away,” he spat.
“I have a kid Anthony. Please, we have a child,” I cried.
“Yeah, I know. Thats the only thing that’s stopping me,” he said. He leaned down and looked into my eyes.
“But I fucking hate you,” he said.
Suddenly there was a shot. I screamed as my brother fell into my lap and blood spilled out of his head onto my lap. I jumped and looked up to see who killed my brother.
AJ stood there with a gun in his hand, still pointing it in the direction that Anthony was in.
“What did you do?!” I cried looking down at my brother.
“He was going to kill you,” he said, shaking.
“Oh my G-d AJ, you killed my brother,” I cried and kneeled down to hold my brothers head up.
“Anthony,” I sobbed. Sure my brother did some harsh things to me, but I didn’t want to see him dead.
“You killed him,” I repeated over and over.
“Baby, I had to,” he said taking my arm.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I yelled at him. He jumped back and looked at me shocked.
“Melissa, please,” he said.
“No, I dont care if I ever see you again you fucking prick!” I screamed at him. AJ now had tears coming down his cheeks and I almost felt bad, but I looked down at my brothers body and my body flooded with anger.
After many hours of questioning and all that, I went home. I started a bath and got into the warm water. I soaked for about an hour, before the water was too cold to be refreshing and I got out and went to sleep. The next morning, I woke up to someone pounding on my door. I jumped up and ran to the door. I swung it open and saw AJ standing there.
“What do you want?” I snapped.
“Baby, come to Florida with me,” he said.
“What? You killed my brother last night and you want me to leave with you?” I asked.
“Melissa, he was going to kill you,” he told me.
“AJ, you didnt have to kill him,” I whispered, knowing that I was going to cry. AJ stepped forward and brought me into his arms. I was too sad and tired to care who I was being comforted by, I just wanted comfort. I just needed to feel loved.
“This is all over now, come with me,” he whispered in my ear.
“I dont think so,” I said backing away.
“Share a life with me Melissa,” he told me.
“AJ, I need time to think. I need time to let this sink in,” I told him shaking my head.
“I’m going to stay up here until you let me know what you want, call me when you want to talk about it,” he said.
I nodded and shut the door behind him as he walked out. I leaned up against the door and sighed. I looked around my kitchen and walked to the refrigerator and got some water. I don’t know what to do.
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Sixteen
Weak Index
AJ Fanfiction Index
BSB Fanfiction Index
Backstreet Island